Windsor music store switching tune to focus on education

The Feedback Monkeys, a band with Moe’s Place Music School’s Rock N Roll Boot Camp program, help to celebrate the announcement with some songs.

WINDSOR, N.S. - Moe’s Place Music Sales is switching focus – expanding music lessons and programming and transitioning out of instrument sales after the co-owners say they realized the potential in growing the school.

The co-owners, Heather Donohue and Jake Smith, made the announcement during an open house before a rock band made up of students played some songs.

Heather Donohue said the transition makes sense for where the business is going.

“The school has grown to such a point that it’s really where we need to focus our time and energy,” Donohue said. “We’ll still carry some products, but we are going to be, first and foremost, a music school.”

Donohue said they’ve seen major growth in private lessons and in programs like Rock N Roll Boot Camp, which has doubled in size in a year.

Donohue said they have students from as far away as Chester attending classes.

The co-owners, Heather Donohue and Jake Smith, made the announcement during an open house before a rock band made up of students played some songs.

Heather Donohue said the transition makes sense for where the business is going.

“The school has grown to such a point that it’s really where we need to focus our time and energy,” Donohue said. “We’ll still carry some products, but we are going to be, first and foremost, a music school.”

Donohue said they’ve seen major growth in private lessons and in programs like Rock N Roll Boot Camp, which has doubled in size in a year.

Donohue said they have students from as far away as Chester attending classes.

Moe’s Place Music Sales co-owners Heather Donohue and Jake Smith announce that they’re switching focus from retail to music lessons and programs.

Transitioning to focus on a school will also mean hiring more teaching staff to provide music lessons Donohue said.

Jake Smith, who’s been playing music for much of his life, said he’s excited about the change.

“I was with Moe’s Place right from the very beginning and it was always about lessons right from day one,” he said. “Moe Brown was a guitar teacher who just happened to have retail. Now it’s back to the way it started.”

Smith said he hopes that people who have supported the store will continue to support the business through the music programs.

“We’ll still have accessories, strings, straps and all of that stuff and still order things in, but it’s now Moe’s Place Music School,” Smith said.

Moe’s will fully transition into a school by Spring 2017, with some renovations expected to take place to accommodate more classrooms.

Hours will also change to reflect the new business model.

The Feedback Monkeys, a band with Moe’s Place Music School’s Rock N Roll Boot Camp program, help to celebrate the announcement with some songs.